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Grant Recipients Louisville Bar Foundation

2017 Grants

The Louisville Bar Foundation recently awarded approximately $90,000 in grants for ten law-related programs in the Louisville area. These grants were approved by the Board of Directors at its board meetings in March and June. Additional grants may be awarded in December. Grants are made possible by the generosity of Louisville area lawyers and law firms.

CASA of the River Region – Advocacy Academy- $7,500
CASA provides advocacy services to children with active cases in Family Court. To increase the number of volunteer advocates, CASA must continually train and provide continuing education. The LBF grant will support CASA’s “Advocacy Academy” program and increase its number of trainings to boost volunteers’ advocacy skillset and the understanding of interrelated child welfare, justice and medical systems.

The Council on Developmental Disabilities - Guardianship Education Program - $5,000
The Council provides advocacy training, support, crisis intervention, information and referral, guidance and outreach activities to families and their children challenged by developmental disabilities. The Council offers free trainings on the court-appointed guardianship process, helping guardians understand legal information and the duties that must be fulfilled for their wards. LBF's funds will be used to enhance this training by creating educational materials to be distributed through targeted outreach and shared online. The Council will expand its educational outreach to include the immigrant and refugee communities.

Doctors & Lawyers for Kids - Expansion of Services - $15,000
Doctors & Lawyers for Kids is a collaborative effort of the Legal Aid Society, LBA and UofL Pediatrics that assists children from low-income families by training healthcare providers to recognize unmet legal needs that affect patient health and by having free legal services available to families in need. LBF funds will be used to expand services at the Portland and Iroquois branches of the Family Health Clinic in underserved neighborhoods.

ElderServe – Crime Victim Services- $3,000
With a mission to empower older adults to live independently and with dignity, ElderServe offers a variety of programs, including Crime Victims Services which is designed to reduce the barriers to accessing the justice system by older crime victims. Advocates support the victims in criminal court, family court and guardianship court. Advocates also assist victims of domestic violence in filing for emergency protective orders. LBF funds will be used to provide transportation to and from court, for program supplies, change locks, install door alarms, and provide emergency food, clothing, medicines and shelter.

Family & Children’s Place - Forensic Interview Equipment- $4,000
When the unspeakable tragedy of child sexual abuse occurs, the Child Advocacy Center at the Family & Children’s Place provides comprehensive medical assessments, mental health and forensic interviewing services. The Child Advocacy Center is the only facility of its kind in Kentucky providing services to child victims up to age 17 with compassionate, coordinated intervention and investigation of child sex abuse. Over 700 child victims were interviewed at the Center in 2016. The LBF grant will be used for the purchase of specialized equipment that properly records and stores these victim interviews for alter use in court proceedings.

The Healing Place - Peer Mentor Program - $5,000
Many of the clients who come to the Healing Place for addiction recovery are involved in the Jefferson County Court System. The Peer mentor Program at The Healing Place enlists men and women who have completed the program to serve as role models and mentors for those newer participants. These peer mentors provide one-on-one counseling and support. In particular, peer mentors help participants comply with court dates, court orders and other issues related to the justice system. LBF funds will support the Peer Mentor Program as it increases the chances of a participant's successful recovery and the efficient resolution of court issues.

Kentucky Refugee Ministries – Citizenship Training and Pro Bono Attorney Project - $11,000
KRM provides legal services to immigrants who have resettled in the Louisville area. Many of these immigrants need to file applications for citizenship. KRM has helped over 1,000 immigrants receive citizenship in recent years, but there remains a backlog of applications who need legal help through the process. The LBF grant will support the recruitment and training of volunteer attorneys who agree to represent immigrants pro bono in naturalization proceedings.

Kentucky Resources Council - Advocacy on Energy and Environmental Issue - $5,000
The Kentucky Resources Council advocates on environmental or energy issue that may adversely affect the health or quality of life of low income communities. KRC provides legal advocacy without charge to non-profit community groups who would not otherwise be able to afford representation on these issues. LBF funds will support KRC's advocacy for these groups in Metro Louisville.

Legal Aid Society - Fresh Start Program - $25,000
Legal Aid's Fresh Start Program assists low-wage or unemployed individuals facing barriers to maintaining or reinstating employment. The project will target barriers such as criminal records, driver's license suspensions, discrimination and domestic violence. The recent legislative changes to Kentucky's law on criminal record expungement has resulted in an increased need for Legal Aid's services. The LBF grant will leverage other funds to allow the Legal Aid Society to continue the employment of a full-time AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Employment Opportunity Fellow (attorney) to provide these services.

Louisville Bar Association – Summer Law Institute- $9,000
The Summer Law Institute is a partnership of the LBA, the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and Bellarmine University. The program provides high school students with an opportunity to interact with prominent local attorneys, judges and professors during a 7-day, 6-night residential program. It is designed to attract talented, ambitious students who are interested in a career in the legal profession. LBF grant monies will cover a portion of the direct costs of the program, such as housing and meals, thereby keeping the tuition affordable.